insulator

(noun)

A substance that does not transmit heat (thermal insulator), sound (acoustic insulator) or electricity (electrical insulator).

Related Terms

  • conductor
  • resistivity
  • dielectric
  • dipole moment

Examples of insulator in the following topics:

  • Conductors and Insulators

    • Based on the ability to conduct current, materials are divided into conductors and insulators.
    • All materials can be categorized as either insulators or conductors based on a physical property known as resistivity.
    • While there is no perfect insulator with infinite resistivity, materials like glass, paper and Teflon have very high resistivity and can effectively serve as insulators in most instances.
    • Just as conductors are used to carry electrical current through wires, insulators are commonly used as coating for the wires.
    • This wire consists of a core of copper (a conductor) and a coating of polyethylene (an insulator).
  • Dieletrics and their Breakdown

    • In all applications, they are selected for their ability to act as insulators.
    • By definition, an insulator is unable to conduct electricity.
    • Under certain conditions, however, a material that is an insulator can become a conductor.
    • Eventually, exposing any insulator to increasing voltage will result in the insulator becoming conductive.
    • This point (the minimum voltage for the insulator to become a conductor) is known as the breakdown voltage.
  • Semiconductors

    • Semiconductors are materials that have properties in between those of normal conductors and insulators; they are often produced by doping.
    • Semiconductors are materials that have properties of both normal conductors and insulators.
    • Semiconductors and insulators are distinguished from metals by the population of electrons in each band.
    • Semiconductors and insulators are further distinguished by the relative band gap.
    • In insulators, it is large, making it difficult for electrons to flow through the conduction band.
  • The bottom line

    • Future-proofing products involves working to insulate products and services from risk and uncertainty by eliminating waste in all phases of a product's life-cycle to: (1) avoid rises in raw material costs, (2) reduce the chances of bad publicity, and (3) prepare for coming changes in environmental legislation.
  • Capacitors with Dielectrics

    • This interruption can come in the form of a vacuum (the absence of any matter) or a dielectric (an insulator).
    • Any insulator can be used as a dielectric, but the materials most commonly used are selected for their ability to resist ionization.
    • Eventually every material has a "dielectric breakdown point," at which the potential difference becomes too high for it to insulate, and it ionizes and permits the passage of current.
  • Introduction to Building Better Buildings

    • Bougainvillea blossom under insulated skylights that cast a warm glow upon a profusion of grapevines and mango trees.
    • Layers of super-efficient insulation, heat-recovering ventilators and insulated windows help keep the building and its occupants warm all winter long.
  • Safety Precautions in the Household

    • This wire is therefore safe to touch even if its insulation is missing.
    • Under ordinary circumstances, insulation on the live/hot and neutral wires prevents the case from being situated directly within the circuit, so that the earth/ground wire may seem like double protection.
    • The simplest problem is worn insulation on the live/hot wire that allows it to contact the case.
    • These appliances, including power tools with impact resistant plastic cases, have nonconducting cases and are called 'doubly insulated. ' Modern two-prong plugs can be inserted into the asymmetric standard outlet in only one way, ensuring the proper connection of live/hot and neutral wires.
    • Wire insulation colors vary by region.
  • Heat Conservation and Dissipation

    • In certain climates, endothermic animals have some form of insulation, such as fur, fat, feathers, or some combination thereof.
    • Animals with thick fur or feathers create an insulating layer of air between their skin and internal organs.
    • The arctic fox uses its fluffy tail as extra insulation when it curls up to sleep in cold weather.
  • Neuroglia of the Central Nervous System

    • They line up along the nerve fibers in the CNS and wrap their process tightly around the fibers producing an insulating covering called myelin sheath.
    • Oligodendrocytes form the electrical insulation around the axons of CNS nerve cells.
  • Parallel-Plate Capacitor

    • The dielectric between the conductors is meant to act as an insulator, preventing charge from bridging the gap between the two plates.
    • In practice, dielectrics do not act as perfect insulators, and permit a small amount of leakage current to pass through them.
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